Interpreting a pictograph involves using its key to determine the quantity represented by each symbol, then finding category totals, comparing quantities, and determining differences or combined amounts. The interpretation must account for the scale rather than simply counting pictures, including equivalent groups represented by repeated symbols; more complex scales, fractional symbols, and generalized statistical analysis are beyond this level.
Use the key first. The key tells you how many items each symbol represents.
Example
A library records the number of books returned each day.
Key: 📚 3 books
| Day | Books shown |
|---|---|
| Monday | 📚📚 |
| Tuesday | 📚📚📚📚 |
| Wednesday | 📚📚📚 |
Step 1: Find Monday’s total.
There are 2 symbols. Each symbol represents 3 books:
Monday’s total is 6 books.
Step 2: Find Tuesday’s total.
There are 4 symbols:
Tuesday’s total is 12 books.
Step 3: Compare Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wednesday has 3 symbols:
Now find the difference:
Tuesday had 3 more books returned than Wednesday.
Step 4: Find the combined total for Monday and Wednesday.
Together, Monday and Wednesday had 15 books returned.
Remember: Do not just count the pictures. Count the symbols, then use the key to find the actual number of items.
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